Another summer is about to be logged on the books of life and I hope it was a good one for you and yours. According to my log book, it hasn’t been the best of years in pure numbers but I can say that there have been more big fish caught than in recent memories. What we lost in quantity it appears we made up in quality. Weather in general and winds in specifics seem to be the primary explanations for the way this summer season has unfolded. The successful anglers have had to work hard for their bounty this summer, or so it would seem to this observer. Going to the same posts and fishing the same old way may have gotten you some fish but more than likely, the consistency wasn’t what it has been in past seasons. It is a theme you may have noticed that I harped on this year. Our goal at OTW with these reports is to give you a tactical edge. Hopefully we have been able to do that this season and also in the future. It would be much easier to list names of successful anglers but I believe that is kind of dry. And we can’t do it without our front-line guys and gals. They are the ones with the best info.
Up in Seaside Park some of the best fishing comes at Island Beach State Park. And if you are going to hike the beaches there, make sure to stop in a pick up your needs at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle there. I spoke with Grumpy himself this week who told me that while they seem to be experiencing a little bit of the “summer doldrums”, fishing remains decent off the sand and better on the open water. Fluke and blues in both venues but the beach landings are a tad smaller. Hot baits have been Berkeley Gulps and size and color are not that important. They are still getting sharks off the beach under the stars using frozen mackerel as bait. Blue fish are starting to get bigger. Grumpy also said that they have had some boaters weigh in some nice sea bass lately which is also promising.
I ran into Captain Mike Tobasso of HighRoller Fishing in AC the other day who told me that the fishing is still pretty good in Absecon Inlet. Flounder is their main target and the skunk has avoided the 50’ pontoon boat all summer. Throwbacks to keeper ratios have jumped up and minnows have replaced Gulp as the hot bait but all things being equal, fishing is decent. Some small blues have moved into the area giving anglers some other options. The HighRoller sails twice daily (8am and 1pm) from its berth in Gardiners Basin. Rod rentals are available and bait comes with the price of a ticket. It’s a great way to get out on the water where the bigger flounder hide.
John Yak at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights reports that the storm currently moving far up the coast isn’t really affecting fishing other than some tough surf and rip tides. He recommends that you bring your big guns and weights more appropriate to hold bottom if you are hitting Island Beach State Park. John also says to be careful as surf like those being generated by Cristobal can make for some tough fishing conditions but it also makes for good fishing as the bait churns. In other news, John says that crabbing has picked up in the back. Bluefish, flounder and finally blowfish are the main targets in the bay. Don’t forget a chum bucket if you are targeting those late arriving northern puffers.
Don’t believe the crap you are reading about Atlantic City, its fine and safe. And the fishing this year off the beaches especially, has been “lights out”. If you don’t believe me, stop in and chat with Noel Feliciano at One Stop Bait and Tackle (2 locations, Atlantic Ave or Gardiners Basin) and you will go to school. Noel tells me that kingfish have moved back into the surf, hopefully till the fall run starts. Some nice togs have been taken off the t-jetty on green crabs. Still getting flounder in the surf and inlet. There have even been some nice weakfish in the inlet and bay. Recently, one a five pounder was weighed in the shop, landed on shedder crab. If you need bait, especially bloods, stop in the shop before you hit the beach, One Stop is the top seller in NJ.
I stopped in to chat with Captain David Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center the other day to get a line on the local bait scene. Dave tells me that the life in the Absecon Bay and surrounding tributaries this year is considerable. You name the bait fish and he has been finding it in his cast nets and minnow pots. He has been especially pumped by the number of 6” black drum he is finding in the area. Dave is confident that this will make for some fine fishing in a year or two when they hit the legal size. Weakfish are starting to make a show in the inlet which is also a good omen. Fluking remains steady and there are some nice bluefish in the inlet. Tog anglers are still getting their limit (1) around most of the rocks and in Little Panama holes. If you are looking for white perch, Curt at the shop suggests the east side of the Parkway Bridge over the Mullica. Shedder crab is the best bait this time of year.
Rich at Reel Life Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant reports that fluking out front is at its apex and with four weeks left in the season, he expects it to remain that way. Best baits have been Gulps lately but there have been days when cut baits are out producing the artificial. In the Canal, anglers have had no problem getting the one legal blackfish they are permitted. Green crabs as bait are a must and Reel Life has plenty in stock. They also have a complete line of offshore baits if that is your need. If you are simply looking for some bay action, hook up a piece of metal and have at the snapper bluefish. They are all over the place. Reel Life opens early (5am) and closes late (9pm) and that is a fact.
John Bushell of Betty and Nicks Bait and Tackle is reporting some grass in the surf of Island Beach state Park. Best fishing is south of Area 18. Expect plenty of bluefish action and the fluke bite has been decent. Be careful out there on the surf and the ocean, some roof waters and rip tides due to storm offshore. It should lay down by Saturday or so. Not a bad time to consider some bay fishing where there are blues, blows and fluke still in play. Reports of some nice banded rudder fish in the area as well. Great eating.
I touched base with Mike Cunningham at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle who told me that it has been some tough fishing of late in the area, mostly because of the churn from Cristobal off shore. There was a a nice surprise yesterday at the shop when a customer walked in with an 86.4 pound cobia taken off the Ocean City Reef while fishing for flounder. My bet is he was using a bucktail tipped with squid or cut bait. This time of year, it pays to have a second rod rigged up for just the type of opportunity. If memory serves me, the state record for cobia is just over 87 pounds, so this indeed qualifies as a whopper.
Pat at Fin-Atics Marine Supply in Ocean City confirms that it has been tough going in the area with the seas churning from the off shore storm. Not to say that people aren’t catching, they just need to work a little harder. Off the sand, its flounder, croakers and kingfish that are most active. Croakers have moved in with big numbers and can be overwhelming at times. In the back, there are still plenty of blues and flounder but you need to pick through the shorts on the flounder size for table fare. There is plenty of bait back there. Peanuts are the predominate species. Crabbing is still real good in the shallow waters. If you want to give kayaking a try, now is the time to check out one of Fin-Atics rental fleet. Once the vacationers move out after Labor Day the bay becomes much easier to navigate. And from a kayak, you can always plug some of those hard-to-reach sod banks and pick up a nice striper or even a weakfish.
Spoke with Captain Ed Berger, of Team Tackle Direct fame to get the low down on action in and around Absecon Island. When not running the store over on Tilton Road in EHT, you will most likely find Ed on the beach or in his boat in search of whatever is hot. Ed tell me that the beaches have been a little slow but there is still activity. Croakers and Kingfish can be taken on blood worms and fluke on a bucktail tipped with just about anything. The local reefs have all been great and Ed expects them to go back to that condition once the water stops spinning like a washing machine. Until then, there are plenty of nice flat fish still being taken in the inlets on both sides of the island. Ed also sent me a link to the Tacckle Direct Labor Day Sale and asked me to share it with you guys. Check it out here: http://www.tackledirect.com/?CP=Labor+Day.
The Gambler Deep Sea Fishing boat out of Point Pleasant Beach is reporting that fishing in general is very good the last few days, even with the choppy seas. Recent pool winners for fluke have been in the 6+ range. There have been some smaller blues in the mix as well. Don’t forget, the Gambler has night trips on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The first two days are night wreck fishing and Saturday is reserved to blue fishing. The Gambler also has some open boat – off shore trips coming up with a few seats available. Check out their web site for more info. These are limited seating events on a truly great fishing platform.
Mike Jung at Peace Token Bait and Tackle in Cape May Court House is the current king of all things fishing in the southern parts of the Garden State. Not only is Peace Token one of the best stocked shops in the south, it’s also a great place to get the latest scouting report for the area. All the local reefs have been hot finally with fish up to 9 pounds coming in from the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11. There was a nice sot in Delaware Bay as well which is very refreshing. Inshore and along the beaches, it has been mostly bluefish and croakers down at the Point. There has been some talk of red drum on the wildwood beaches. Mike suggests a yellow bomber for action if they are here. There are also spike weakfish close. Inshore trolling around the Sea Isle Ridge has produced bonito, mahi and the occasional wahoo. For you offshore guys and gals, reports have been a little sketchy due to the storm but last word was the Lindenkohl and Baltimore Canyons were the place to be for white marlin and tuna. Nothing solid but whispers of good action.
Time to Clean and Set the Table
With the Captain Robbins temporarily out of action, the Miss Ocean City has been pulling double duty of late. With morning trips ocean side and afternoon trips in the bay, it has been hectic. Captain Vic Hartley tells me that the Robbins will be back in action sometime around the 6th of September, just in time for the good fishing.
Effective Labor Day Week, the Duke O’ Fluke in Somers point will be eliminating Tuesday and Thursday trips through the end of the fishing season. Captain Brooke Koenke tells me that the Duke will still be available for private charters as well as some twilight nature cruises they do with the Wetlands Institute. Check their website or call (609-926-2280) for more information. Fishing in the GE Inlet remains normal for end of summer conditions.
Heads Up. Effective Friday 8-29, the Carolyn Ann III in Barnegat Light switches back to one 6 hour trip (8am to 2pm) daily. Captain Bill Hammarstrom reports that fishing has been good lately with 4-6 pound fluke winning the daily pools. The Carolyn Ann will continue flounder fishing thru the end on the season.
Captain Kenny Namowicz of the Mimi IV is running two open boat off shore trips on 9/4-9/5 and 9/15-9/16. Seating is limited. Call for availability or information, 732-370-8019 from 8am to 8pm eastern. Or email Capt. Kenny at kenny@mimivi.com
Lenny Hahn of Captain Hippos Bait and Tackle in Toms River tell me that the fishing up there is decent with fluke, and blowfish playing second fiddle to the tsunami of snapper blues in the area. Crabbing remains strong. But the really important news is that Lenny is running his annual “Labor Day Sale” at the shop this weekend. 10 percent off the entire store inventory, excluding bait. Now is the time to stock up for the Fall Run.
Best Bets for the Weekend
In some way Labor Day weekend has always been a sad time of year for me. It meant the summer season was drawing to an end and the waters would soon start to cool down. Summer has always meant a vast array of species to target and perfect weather for chasing them. Labor Day also meant the start of the school season and the end to the vacation season. Now that I am all grown up, I realize that post Labor Day offers some of the best angling of the year. Flounder, sea bass and all off the other bottom fish are making their last hurrah and you should be there to accommodate them. Offshore, this is probably the best time of year for almost every deep water species. Tuna, Marlin, Sword , Wahoo and Dolphin are all in a feeding frenzy. And those fish that visit us on the way north in the spring start to show up for a return engagement. So I guess what I am saying is everything is on the board this weekend. But once again, it is Labor Day Weekend. A lot of people will be out there saying goodbyr to summer. Be careful in whatever you do. Stay safe, especially with the rough water we have right now. See you on the incoming.